Ski boot cleaning device

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for cleaning foreign substances such as snow and ice from the sole of a ski boot includes a track mounted within a groove in the sole. A slider having a scraper on one end thereof and a handle on the other end thereof is slideably mounted in the track. The slider can be moved through the track by the handle thereby moving the scraper along the sole of the boot to remove the foreign substances therefrom. The track, slider and scraper can be recessed below the surface of the sole when not in use.

United States Patent Grzech SKI BOOT CLEANING DEVICE Inventor: JosephLeonard Grzech, 16

Cornhollow Rd., Roxbury Twp., NJ. 07876 Filed: Oct. 24, 1973 Appl. No.:409,267

US. Cl...., 36/25 AL, 15/237 Int. Cl A43b 00/00 Field of Search 35/25 R,2.5 AL; 15/112,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Leach 36/2.5 AL Spier 15/237 July30, 1974 3,751,832 3/1973 Baryluk 36/25 AL Primary ExaminerPatrick D.Lawson 5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for cleaning foreign substances such assnow and ice from the sole of a ski boot includes a track mounted withina groove in the sole. A slider having a scraper on one end thereof and ahandle on the other end thereof is slideably mounted in the track. Theslider can be moved through the track by the handle thereby moving thescraper along the sole of the boot to remove the foreign substancestherefrom. The track, slider and scraper can be recessed below thesurface of the sole when not in use.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEM SBEETIUF 2 FIG.

SKI BOOT CLEANING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to boot cleaning apparatus and moreparticularly to apparatus mounted on the sole of a ski boot for removingsnow and ice therefrom.

2. Description of the Prior Art A skier oftenmust remove accumulatedsnow and ice from the sole of his ski boots before the boots can beproperly inserted in the ski bindings. This is usually attempted byscraping or rubbing the sole by hand. However because of the bulkyclothing and particularly the gloves worn by the skier, it is usuallydifficult to adequately clean the boot sole by this method.

There have been other means suggested for cleaning the boot solesincluding the use of a scraper mounted on the skis as shown in US. Pat.No. 3,284,091 or the use of brushes mounted on the top of the boots asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,832. However these prior art devices suffervarious disadvantages. Accordingly, it is an object ofthis invention toimprove the means for removing foreign substances from the soles of skiboots and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing object and others are achieved inaccordance with this invention by boot cleaning apparatus including atrack mounted within a groove in the boot sole. The groove terminates ina cavity orthogonal thereto at its front end. A track is mounted in thegroove. A slider having a scraper on one end thereof and a handle on theother end thereof is slideably mounted in the track so that the scraperlies in close proximity to the surface of the sole. The slider can bemoved through the track by applying a force to the handle thereby movingthe scraper along the sole to remove accumulated substances. The trackcan be mounted below the surface of the sole and the scraper can berecessed in the cavity when the cleaning apparatus is not in use so thatit does not interfere with the insertion of the boot into the bindings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fullycomprehended from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawing in which;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a ski boot sole having theapparatus of this invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. I with the top of theski boot shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sole and cleaning apparatus with thetop of the ski boot shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view partly broken away of a portion of theslider and track shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is another perspective view partly in section, from a differentdirection, of the slider and track of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a view ofthe bottom or sole of a ski boot 12 having a cleaning or scraping deviceor apparatus 101 in accordance with this invention mounted thereon. Arelative shallow rectangular channel or groove 14 is formed along asubstantial portion of the length of sole 10. This channel l4 terminatesnear the front end of sole 10 in a cavity or relatively deep channel 16which angles upward and forward in sole 10 as shown more clearly in thesectional view of FIG. 2. Cavity 16 is oriented substantially orthogonalto channel 14. Depending upon the desired width of the scraper, cavity16 may extend the entire width of sole 10 as is shown in theillustrative embodiment. Channel 14 continues on the other end thereofto the rear edge 18 of sole 10. Because of the forward and upwardinclination of cavity 16 a flange or lip 17 extends partially over theentrance of cavity 16 as viewed in FIG. I.

Mounted within channel 14 by well known techniques such as riveting orbonding is a track or guide 20 as shown more clearly in the perspectiveviews in FIGS. 3 through 5. Track 20 comprises a substantially U-shapedchannel with lips or flanges 22 extending from the legs to restrict theopen side thereof for purposes to be explained subsequently. Flanges 22are substantially flush with the surface 24 of sole 10.

A liner 60 shaped to the contour of cavity I6 is mounted within thecavity to provide strength thereto to prevent lip 17 from collapsing.Liner 60 extends the full length of the cavity 16, i.e., the full width46 of sole 10, in the illustrative embodiment. However, this is notrequired. Liner 60 includes a rounded lip 62 at the forward and upwardend of cavity 16 which provides a locking or detenting action as will beexplained subsequently. Flanges 64 and 66 extend from lip 62 to the edgeof lip 17 and to the end of track 20, respectively. Liner 60 can beformed as a separate piece part or can be formed as an integral part oftrack 20 which is bent or oriented at an angle with respect to theremainder of the track. Track 20 and liner 60 can be made of anysuitable rigid material such as metal or available plastics and can havea lubricant coating or layer along the inner surfaces thereof if desiredto improve the sliding of objects therethrough.

Mounted within track 20 for sliding movement therethrough is a slider30. Slider 30 includes a rectangular body 32 adapted to fit within track20 and be retained therein by lips 22. Body 32 can include a rib 33along a surface thereof for stiffening it. On the rear end of body 32 isan upstanding handle 34 which abuts the heel or back 13 of ski boot l2and the rear edge 18 of sole 10 when slider 30 is pushed fully forwardin track 20 as indicated in phantom in FIG. 2. Handle 34 is adapted forgrasping by the wearer of boot 12 for movement of slider 30 within track20. Handle 34 can be configured as desired to avoid interfering with theclamps or bindings which are applied to the heel of boot 12 to hold itin the ski. For example, if necessary a groove can be formed within therear edge 18 of sole 10 in which handle 34 can be recessed when slider30 is pushed fully forward.

On the front end of slider 30 is a reduced width portion 36 which isfolded back substantially and terminates in a blade or scraper 38. Thewidth 37 of portion 36 must be less than the spacing 39 between lips 22in order that slider 30 can slide through track 20 as shown. The fold inslider 30 has a cylindrical contour 40 adapted to fit within lip 62 ofliner 60 with a detenting or'locking action to hold slider 30 in a fullyforward position in track 20 until sufficient force is applied to handle34. The top 41 of the cylindrical contoured fold 40, i.e., the portionof fold 40 contacting the inner wall surface of track 20, extends aboveor out of the plane of body 32 so that when slider 30 is pulledrearwardly, top 41 of fold 40 contacts the top or inner wall 42 of track20 and tends to pivot scraper or blade 38 toward surface 24 of sole 10.This provides for a very close scraping or cleaning of surface 24 aswill subsequently be described. Slider 30 advantageously can be made ofa spring material such as spring steel in order to provide the desiredflexibility for allowing the front portion thereof including scraper 38to deflect into liner 60 mounted within cavity 16.

Appropriate stops can be utilized near the rear edge 18 of sole 10 toprevent slider 30 from being pulled completely out of track 20. Forexample, at the rear end of track 20, lips 22 could be extended towardeach other until the space 43 therebetween along a small length of track20 is less than the width 37 of portion 36 of slider 30. Thus fold 40will be caught by lips 22 at this point to prevent further rearwardmotion of slider 30 in track 20. Other stops will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

Scraper or blade 38 can have tapered ends and a wedge-shapedcross-section as shown and a length 44 substantially the same as thewidth 46 of sole 10. Such a configuration provides an efficient scrapingaction along surface 24. Of course other configurations can also beutilized for scraper 38. A simple upstanding rib or flange can beutilized as a scraper.

OPERATION When apparatus 101 is not in use, handle 34 abuts the rearedge 18 of sole 10 as indicated in phantom. The end portion 36 of slider30 is flexed into liner 60 in cavity 16 with fold 40 being held orlocked in lip 62 and blade 38 resting in cavity 16 between flanges 64and 66 flush with or below the surface 24 of sole 10 so as to notinterfere with the fitting of boot 12 into a ski or with walking whilewearing the boot. When accumulated ice or snow or other foreign matteris to be removed from surface 24, handle 34 is grasped and pulled awayfrom edge 18 along the direction 48. This pulls fold 40 from itsdetented or locked position in lip 62 and moves slider 30 rearwardlythrough track 20. Blade 38 emerges from cavity 16 until it rests onsurface 24. When slider 30 has moved a sufficient distance rearward,fold 40 contacts track 20 pivoting blade 38 toward surface 24 until itis in a close skimming or scraping position with respect thereto.Further rearward movement of slider 30 then moves blade 38 along surface24 skimming or scraping away the accumulated.

snow and ice. Surface 24 is completely cleared when the rearwardmovement of slider 30 is arrested by appropriate stops. Handle 34 isthen pushed toward edge 18 moving slider 30 toward the front of sole 10When fold 40 reaches the edge of cavity 16, it contacts flange 64 ofliner 60 or lip17 of sole l and is deflected thereby into cavity 16.Continued forward movement of slider 30 will force fold 40 into lockinglip 62. Surface 24 is now clear and boot 12 can readily be inserted intoa ski.

New boots can be provided with cleaning apparatus in accordance withthis invention by forming groove 14, installing track 20, etc., as partof the manufactur- 6 ing process. The apparatus can also be provided inkit form and can readily be retrofitted on existing boots by a cobblerutilizing well known shoe repair and modification techniques. Track 20,slider 30, scraper 38, and

liner 60 can be made as piece parts in various sizes to fit various sizeboots. Alternatively, these parts could be made in a standard size whichis designed for trimming or cutting to size for particular applications.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various modificationsthereto might be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ski boot including:

a sole;

a scraper adapted for cleaning foreign substances from said sole; and

means for mounting said scraper on said sole for sliding movementtherealong in close proximity thereto so that said foreign substancescan be removed from said sole.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sole has a groovealong a substantial portion of the length thereof; and

said mounting means comprises a guide means mounted within said groove,and a slider slideably mounted in said guide means and having saidscraper mounted on one end thereof in close proximity to said sole, saidslider including a handle on the other end thereof by which said slidercan be moved through said guide means to move said scraper along saidsole.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sole has a cavityalong the forward end of said groove, said cavity having dimensionssufficient for receiving said scraper therein; and

said slider comprises a flexible member having a rounded end adapted tocontact an edge of said cavity and deflect said end and said scraperinto said cavity when said slider is moved forward through said guide,whereby said scraper and said mounting means can be placed in recessedpositions within said sole except when said scraper is being utilized.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said scraper and saidcavity have lengths extending the entire width of said sole so that saidentire width can be cleaned by said scraper.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said guide meansincludes a portion extending into said cavity, said portion including alocking means thereon for receiving said rounded end of said slider andlocking said scraper in said recessed position.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said guide meanscomprises a channel-shaped member having a bottom side mounted along theinner wall surface of said groove and upstanding sides extending towardsaid surface of said sole, said rounded end of said slider has a radiusgreater than the height of said sides so that said rounded end contactssaid inner wall and slides therealong when said slider is moved throughsaid channel-shaped member, said scraper being connected to said roundedend in overlaying relationship across said slider, whereby said scraperis pivoted downward into close proximity to said sole.

7. Apparatus in'accordance with claim 6 wherein said rounded end has awidth less than the width of the remainder of said slider;

LII

said channel-shaped member includes flanges extending inwardly towardeach other from said upstanding sides, said flanges being separatedalong a first section of said member by a distance greater than saidwidth of said rounded end and less than the width of said remainder ofsaid slider so that said slider is locked within said member and canmove through said member with said scraper in overlaying relationshipoutside said member, and said flanges are separated along a secondsection of said member at the rear end thereof by a distance less thansaid width of said rounded end, so that said second section preventsfurther rearward movement of said slider and scraper along said sole. 8.Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including a liner in said cavityadapted to receive said end and said scraper therein, said linerincluding a rounded lip locksaid sole has a recess along the rear edgethereof adapted for receiving said handle therein when said slider ismoved completely forward in said guide means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said scraper hastapered ends and a wedge-shaped cross-section.

12. Apparatus for cleaning foreign substances such as snow and ice fromthe soles of boots comprising, in combination:

a track adapted for mounting on said sole;

a slider adapted for being slideably mounted in said track and includingmeans for moving said slidcr along said track; and

a scraper mounted on said slider so as to be positioned in proximity tosaid sole when said track is mounted thereon, said scraper being adaptedfor moving along said sole and cleaning said substances therefrom whensaid slider is moved through said track.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said track is adaptedfor mounting within a groove in said sole so that said apparatus can bemounted in a recessed position within said sole.

1. A ski boot including: a sole; a scraper adapted for cleaning foreignsubstances from said sole; and means for mounting said scraper on saidsole for sliding movement therealong in close proximity thereto so thatsaid foreign substances can be removed from said sole.
 2. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said sole has a groove along asubstantial portion of the length thereof; and said mounting meanscomprises a guide means mounted within said groove, and a sliderslideably mounted in said guide means and having said scraper mounted onone end thereof in close proximity to said sole, said slider including ahandle on the other end thereof by which said slider can be movedthrough said guide means to move said scraper along said sole. 3.Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sole has a cavityalong the forward end of said groove, said cavity having dimensionssufficient for receiving said scraper therein; and said slider comprisesa flexible member having a rounded end adapted to contact an edge ofsaid cavity and deflect said end and said scraper into said cavity whensaid slider is moved forward through said guide, whereby said scraperand said mounting means can be placed in recessed positions within saidsole except when said scraper is being utilized.
 4. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said scraper and said cavity havelengths extending the entire width of said sole so that said entirewidth can be cleaned by said scraper.
 5. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 3 wherein said guide means includes a portion extending into saidcavity, said portion including a locking means thereon for receivingsaid rounded end of said slider and locking said scraper in saidrecessed position.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein saidguide means comprises a channel-shaped member having a bottom sidemounted along the inner wall surface of said groove and upstanding sidesextending toward said surface of said sole, said rounded end of saidslider has a radius greater than the height of said sides so that saidrounded end contacts said inner wall and slides therealong when saidslider is moved through said channel-shaped member, said scraper beingconnected to said rounded end in overlaying relationship across saidslider, whereby said scraper is pivoted downward into close proximity tosaid sole.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said roundedend has a width less than the width of the remainder of said slider;said channel-shaped member includes flanges extending inwardly towardeach other from said upstanding sides, said flanges being separatedalong a first section of said member by a distance greater than saidwidth of said rounded end and less than the width of said remainder ofsaid slider so that said slider is locked within said member and canmove through said member with said scraper in overlaying relationshipoutside said member, and said flanges are separated along a secondsection of said member at the rear end thereof by a distance less thansaid width of said rounded end, so that said second section preventsfurther rearward movement of said slider and scraper along said sole. 8.Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including a liner in said cavityadapted to receive said end and said scraper therein, said linerincluding a rounded lip locking portion for receiving said end of saidslider to lock said end and said scraper in said recessed position. 9.Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said liner extends theentire length of said cavity and conforms to the contour of said cavityto provide strength thereto.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2wherein said sole has a recess along the rear edge thereof adapted forreceiving said handle therein when said slider is moved completelyforward in said guide means.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1wherein said scraper has tapered ends and a wedge-shaped cross-section.12. Apparatus for cleaning foreign substances such as snow and ice fromthe soles of boots comprising, in combination: a track adapted formounting on said sole; a slider adapted for being slideably mounted insaid track and including means for moving said slider along said track;and a scraper mounted on said slider so as to be positioned in proximityto said sole when said track is mounted thereon, said scraper beingadapted for moving along said sole and cleaning said substancestherefrom when said slider is moved through said tRack.
 13. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 12 wherein said track is adapted for mountingwithin a groove in said sole so that said apparatus can be mounted in arecessed position within said sole.